Jennifer Lyon


Monday, December 4th, 2017
Weekend Roundup & A Monday Rant

This was probably the last calm weekend before the new year. It was wonderful! Friday I had coffee with Biker Witch. Saturday Wizard and I checked out a doggy daycare and boarding facility for the second time and like it for Maggie. We’re going to try it next Saturday and see how she does. (I know you’re all laughing at us!)

Wizard put up the outside Christmas light and I’m ready to put up the tree this week. I’m might actually be getting into the holiday spirit :-)

Sunday I had the whole day to work, and finally tackled the scene that’s been tangling me up in knots. I’m accepting that it’s never going to be perfect, but I got the bones down. I’ll edit it today and move on.

Now for the ranty portion of today’s blog. I read something over the weekend about romance writers and how “nobody understands what’s it like to be a writer…”

I call bullshit.

Sorry to all my beloved writer friends out there, but I call bullshit, and I’m calling it on myself too. These last months have sucked out my ability to write. Pain, family illnesses, endless stress…

And that’s bullshit too.

Yes writing is hard. It’s supposed to be hard. But you know what else is hard? Doing almost any job. Work is hard. Commitment is hard. Sometimes pushing through is the hardest thing. But writing is also a gift, a chance to tell the story of people living in our heads and hearts, and share it with readers who care about them almost as much as we too. That’s a gift, and if we wanted it bad enough, we find the time and will to do it.

So don’t tell me no one understands. Just do it. If there’s anything you love, go do it. Don’t wait for permission or the perfect time.

As you can see, this article I read (okay I stopped reading soon after that line about how no one, not even her husband or mother understands). It’s like I told my kid when they were in their junior and senior year of high school, and looking toward their futures. If you want it, then go out and find a way to make it happen. Don’t wait around for your dad or me to wave our magic wand (or pull out our wallets) to make it happen for you. And for sure, don’t let us stand in your way if our vision for your life is not your vision. If you want it, if you believe or a certain college or career path is right for you, then go make it happen yourself. Believe me, if you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way.

And all three of our boys did that.

And so am I. Sure the road can be bumpy, it’ll have set backs and sometimes it doesn’t turn out exactly the way we planned or hoped. But I don’t let “no one understands my art or passion” excuse or cop out ever stand in my way.

Do you???

This concludes the ranty portion of my blog. So how was your weekend?

 

 

4 comments to “Weekend Roundup & A Monday Rant”

  1. Silver James
    December 4th, 2017 at 11:35 am · Link

    Rant away, Jen. You are preaching to the choir, sister! I see and hear so many excuses from so-called writers in my local chapter. One was published in 1998 and hasn’t finished a book since. One has every excuse under the sun and then talks about watching that TV show, shopping til she dropped, going out for coffee with her friends. I have no patience for them. Yeah, I slack off sometimes when I really need to knuckle down but writing is my JOB. Don’t call yourself a writer if you’re just going to dabble. A hundred words a week/month/year does NOT make you a writer. Grrrr. Okay. Sorry. Obviously a hot button, especially since NaNoWriMo just ended.

    My weekend was pretty good. Mexican food and James Gang time is always awesome. Stormageddon is…I need to start calling him Sprout again. Every time I see him, he’s taller! (I’m buying size 6 jeans for him for Christmas and he’s not even 4 yet! *flail* I also hit THE END with Tucker’s story. Man, I’m dreading the edits. It’s sucks. Hopefully, I can fix it enough that my editor can fix it further. I need to do that but…procrastination because it’s going to be ugly. :lol:

    I did get the garland and lights up on the front porch. Okay. I really should get to work because, you know, I was all ranty about NOT working. ;)



  2. Jenn
    December 4th, 2017 at 12:08 pm · Link

    Silver, glad I’m not alone here. I closed the article, disgusted. I’m tired of cop-outs too. And as I said, I’m talking to myself here as well.

    Stormageddon is really growing! It makes me excited for my own grandson :-) I can’t wait!

    Glad you had a good weekend with your gang. Huge congrats on getting to the end on Tucker’s book! And I’m betting the book is better than you think, but editing is still work.

    I hope your back is feeling better.



  3. Viki S.
    December 4th, 2017 at 4:31 pm · Link

    I don’t write but I completely agree with you. If you’re going to do a job, do the job. That is what is wrong with so much of society today. People don’t want to work for anything.

    I think it’s sweet that you and Wizard are being so careful with Maggie. She got good parents :).

    I’m struggling with Christmas point and clicking. I have no idea what some of the things are the kids say they’d like. Man am I old ;).

    Have a great afternoon!



  4. Jenn
    December 4th, 2017 at 6:58 pm · Link

    Viki, thanks for the support in my rantiness, LOL!

    Both Wizard and I appreciate that about Maggie. We’re a little silly as most new parents are :-) , but we also are seeing her blossom with confidence and want that to continue.

    I’m the same way on stuff the kids want. I feel like I should know what people want, and i just don’t. I’m out of touch too :-)



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